Wednesday, May 07, 2008 | Posted by Joe Mayes

Coming off the franchise’s first 15-loss season, Miami Dolphins fans are searching for signs of life for the future. A new front office, head coach, left tackle, and catchy sales slogan (“Respect the Code”) have given the Dolphin faithful a glimmer of hope that the light at the end of the tunnel isn’t yet another freight train.

But rebounding from double-digit losses is something new for Dolphin fans. Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, the Dolphins have lost as many as 10 games just four times (including last year). What’s most troubling, however, is that three of these 10-plus-loss seasons have come since 2004 (4-12 in 2004, 6-10 in 2006, and last season’s 1-15).

But for fans looking for positive signs, history is on Miami’s side. Since the NFL went to a 16-game regular season in 1978, the Dolphins are the eighth team to finish 1-15. The 1980 Saints, 1989 Cowboys, 1990 Patriots, 1991 Colts, 1996 Jets, 2000 Chargers, and 2001 Panthers all share this ignominious record with last year’s Dolphins.

Don’t despair, Dolfans. The good news is that all of the previous seven have gone on to make the playoffs and four have made it to the Super Bowl. Dallas even managed to take home the Lombardi Trophy just three years removed from its 1989 1-15 campaign.

The bad news is that it has taken an average of nearly four seasons after a 15-loss year for these teams to make it back to the playoffs. Just two of the seven managed winning records the year after their season of shame (including the 1997 Jets, led by new Dolphins VP Bill Parcells) and only the Cowboys, Jets, and Panthers were able to go from 1-15 to the playoffs in two years. The Saints took longer than any of the rest, needing seven years to get to their first postseason competition, and it was six seasons before the Patriots (under Parcells) reached the playoffs.

Parcells has been called on twice before to turn around teams at some point between their 1-15 finish and their eventual playoff success. He stepped in three years after the Patriots 15-loss season (coming in after two years under Dick MacPherson) and had New England back in the playoffs in four seasons. With New York, he took over the team the season after its 15-loss disaster and the Jets were in the AFC Championship game just two years later.

These seven teams have turned around their fortunes in a variety of ways. The Chargers drafted LaDainian Tomlinson and Drew Brees in 2001 and their 1-15 season was soon in the rear-view mirror. Carolina rescued Jake Delhomme from New Orleans and he led the Panthers to the Super Bowl just two years later. With the Jets, Parcells made no earth-shattering draft picks that triggered the turnaround; he simply changed the climate around the club and in just two seasons, he had Rich Kotite’s 1-15 squad playing for the AFC title.

The Dolphins have done all of the above. With nine draft choices, led by No. 1 overall pick Jake Long, the Dolphins have begun refilling their talent pool. Moreover, they’ve brought in veterans from winning teams through trades and free agency. Parcells has brought a new feeling to the training facilities and the front office, a no-nonsense approach to the business of winning football games.

So there is hope, Dolphin fans. No 15-loss team has ever stayed at the bottom, though some have taken longer than others to turn things around. You’ve got Parcells, who has experience righting a sinking ship, leading the effort. And you’ve got players in place who know how to win.

But there remains one missing ingredient to turning things around for the Dolphins, and that must come from the fans. History shows that Miami will be successful again, probably within three years, but this will require something from the Dolphin faithful that seems to be in short supply these days in South Florida.

Patience. The team will return to relevance, Dolphin fans. Just don’t expect miracles overnight.

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